“No...I,”Istarttosay.Idon’tknowwhattosay.
“Youdid,didn’tyou?”hesays,laughing.
“Youknow...Idid,”Iadmit.Iamalreadyhumiliated,soIhavenothingto
lose. “You fed me that bullshit about wanting more, and I believed you. I
believed all the shit you said to me, all the things you claimed to never tell
anyone, but I’m sure that was all bullshit, too. I’m sure none of that even
happened.”I shrug,giving upcompletely. “Butyou knowwhat? I’mnot even
madatyou;I’mmadatmyselfforbelievingit.IknewhowyouwerebeforeI
startedtofallforyou.Iknewyouwouldhurtme.Whatwereyourwords,You’ll
destroyme?No,ruin,you’llruinme.Well,congratulations,Hardin,youwon,”I
sob.
Painflashesinhiseyes...well,whatlookslikepain.Itisprobablyhumor.
Inolongercareaboutwinningorlosingorplayingtheseexhaustinggames.I
turnawayfromhimagainandbegintowalkbacktowardthehouse,figuringI’ll
findsomeone’sphonetousetocallLandonorsomehowgetaridebacktothe
dorms.
“Whereareyougoing?”heasks.Ithurtsthathedoesn’thaveanythingtosay,
that he has offered me no explanation. He has only confirmed what I already
knew,thatheisheartless.
I walk faster, ignoring him. He trails behind me, calling my name a couple
moretimes,butIrefusetoletmyselfbecharmedbyhisvoiceagain.
WhenIgetbacktothehouse’sfrontsteps,ofcourseIspotMolly’spinkhair
outside.“Aww,look,sheiswaitingforyou.Youtworeallyareperfectforeach
other,”IcallovermyshouldertoHardin.
“It’snotlikethatandyouknowit,”hegrumbles.
“Idon’tknowanything,obviously,”Isnapandclimbtwostepsatatime.
Zedappears inthe doorway, andI rushto hisside. “CanI useyour phone?
Please?”Ibegandhenods.
“Areyouokay?Itriedtogoafteryou,butyouwerelonggone,”hesaysandI
nod.
HardinstandsinfrontofZedandmewhileIcallLandonandaskhimtopick
meup.ZedandHardinstareateachotherforasecondwhentheyhearmesay
Landon’sname,thenZedlooksawayandbackdownatme.“Ishecoming?”he
asks,hisvoicefullofconcern.
“Yeah,hewillbehereinafewminutes.Thankyouforlettingmeuseyour
phone,”Itellhim,ignoringHardin.
“Noproblem.Doyouwantmetowaitwithyou?”heasks.
“No,Iwillwaitwithher,”Hardininjects,hisvoicefullofvenom.
“Iwouldloveitifyoucouldwaitwithme,Zed,”Isayandwalkbackdown